Review of Neds (2007) by Stuart K — 29 Mar 2014

Written and directed by Peter Mullan, who won critical acclaim for turning to directing with Orphans (1998) and The Magdalene Sisters (2002)), returns for this gritty coming-of-age film. Mullan said of this film, "It's my Goodfellas", he's not far wrong, only this is very autobiographical and shows what life was like growing up in 1970's Glasgow, it has some good performances in the film and a good script.

It starts in the early 1970's, and schoolboy John McGill (Conor McCarron) is a brilliant pupil, excelling in every subject at school, but his family have a dark stigma attached. His brother Benny (Joe Szula) is a violent thug who has been expelled from school, and his father (Mullan) is an alcoholic.

Even when gangs threaten to beat John up, once they realise who his brother is, they leave him well alone. But, this begins a downward spiral for John, as he becomes close to Benny's gang, and he ends up living a life of violence.

But, when Benny is arrested for a violent assault, John's life as part of the gang spirals out of control. It should be a miserable film, but it's not, and it's well made and Mullan makes the most of this side of life, it's compelling but it doesn't become depressing.

It's gripping, and you end up wondering what will happen to our hero, and will he continue on his downward spiral, or make amends and do well in life.